Digital imaging system for biopsy inspection

Abstract

A self-illuminating microscope slide with a biopsy specimen disposed thereon comprises LEDs on the ends of the slide to illuminate the specimen through total internal reflection. A camera device captures a single digital image of the entire specimen in high resolution and large field of view encompassing the specimen.

1 . A system for inspecting a specimen, the system comprising an illumination device for disposing the specimen thereon, the illumination device comprising a plurality of light sources for illuminating the specimen,
 wherein the light substantially permeates the illumination device;   wherein the light substantially permeates an interface between the illumination device and the specimen, the light entering into and scattering within the specimen; and   wherein the light substantially reflects off other interfaces of the illumination device.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , the specimen comprising a histological tissue sample. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 2 , wherein the histological tissue sample is at least one of transparent and turbid. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1 , the illumination device further comprising an integrated control circuit and a battery source. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 1 , the illumination device further comprising two opposing sides, wherein each side comprises at least one light source from the plurality of light sources. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light sources comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device is made from a translucent material. 
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 7 , wherein the translucent material is glass. 
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 1 , the illumination device further comprising a microscope slide. 
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 1 , the other interfaces being between the illumination device and air. 
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a camera device for capturing an image of the specimen. 
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 11 , the camera device capturing the image with a field of view substantially encompassing the specimen. 
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 1 , the image being at least one of transmittable to and displayable on a computing device, wherein the image is displayable on the computing device as a digital image preview of the specimen. 
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 13 , further comprising a grid superimposed on the digital image preview, each location in the grid corresponding to a portion of the digital image preview, wherein each portion of the digital image preview is at least one of selectable and magnifiable. 
     
     
         15 . A method for inspecting a specimen, the method comprising:
 providing an illumination device comprising a plurality of light sources for illuminating the specimen;   disposing the specimen on the illumination device;   capturing an image of the specimen with a camera device,   
       wherein the light substantially permeates the illumination device; 
       wherein the light substantially permeates an interface between the illumination device and the specimen, the light entering into and scattering within the specimen; and 
       wherein the light substantially reflects off other interfaces of the illumination device. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the specimen comprises a histological tissue sample. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the histological tissue sample is at least one of transparent and turbid. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the illumination device further comprises an integrated control circuit and a battery source. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the illumination device further comprises two opposing sides, each side comprising at least one light source from the plurality of light sources. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of light sources comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         21 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the illumination device is made from a translucent material. 
     
     
         22 . The method as in  claim 21 , wherein the translucent material is glass. 
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 15 , the illumination device further comprising a microscope slide. 
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 15 , the other interfaces being between the illumination device and air. 
     
     
         25 . The method as in  claim 15 , further comprising providing a camera device for capturing an image of the specimen. 
     
     
         26 . The method as in  claim 25 , further comprising capturing the image with a field of view substantially encompassing the specimen. 
     
     
         27 . The method as in  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of:
 transmitting the image to a computing device; and   displaying the image on the computing device,   
       wherein the image is displayed on the computing device as a digital image preview of the specimen. 
     
     
         28 . The method as in  claim 27 , further comprising at least one of:
 selecting each portion of the digital image preview; and   magnifying each portion of the digital image preview,   
       wherein each portion of the digital image preview corresponds to a location in a grid; and 
       wherein the grid is superimposed on the digital image preview.